CatEye Padrone Smart Computer Triple Bundle

Details

Objective.

There are applications when the simplicity of CatEye's plain ol' Padrone computer will suffice; however, if you're serious about progressing, then you'll want to establish an objective map of your output and efforts instead of just riding, training, and racing by subjective feel. CatEye's Padrone Smart Computer Triple Bundle fits this bill, connecting to a smartphone while reading speed, cadence, and heart rate from the provided Bluetooth sensors.

Even without the included sensors, the Padrone Smart unit at the center of the Triple Bundle has a great deal going for it. With the free CatEye Cycling app, you can sync your iPhone or Android device to the head unit, creating a back and forth between the devices that displays all of the usual, pertinent ride and GPS data with the addition of text, call, and e-mail alerts — even while your phone is saving juice in sleep mode. When riding in inclement conditions or while racing, you may not want to carry your phone. We don't blame you. The Padrone Smart is just clever enough to handle this, gathering the appropriate data from the sensors without the help of a smartphone.

Regardless of how you collect it, the compiled data can be uploaded post-ride to CatEyeAtlas, Strava, or TrainingPeaks, depending on your preference. The breadth of data collected can also be increased by one more degree with the addition of a Bluetooth-compatible power meter, which puts the Padrone Smart's level of operation on par with virtually any other training aid on the market at a pleasantly situated price point.

Despite the Padrone Smart's increased functionality, the expanded scope of information is still laid out across CatEye's generous, oversized Padrone screen. The display is large and clear enough that the information on it is readily digestible at a glance — no fishing through tiny print and across cryptic icons for your heart rate during tricky descents when you're trying to bridge the gap during a nervous finale with the race on the line.